Shipped Infertile Eggs - What Would You Do? *Pictures Included*

So there isn't really anything I CAN do, really. The money has been spent, and I've been shipped many batches of eggs before, I understand the risk. Shipping is rough on eggs that are viable from the start. That doesn't keep me from being disappointed in getting so many infertile (never were viable) eggs. I am looking for your thoughts on the matter, on whether my assumption is valid or not, too.

I got these eggs in the mail about a week ago. I unpacked them promptly. One thing I noticed was that they smelled odd. Like, pond water, that is the only thing I can describe it as. And most of them were misshaped, bullet shaped or very small like pullet eggs. I didn't think much of it, and let the eggs rest for 24 hours, big end up. My incubator has been up and running, temps and humidity checked out. It had also been cleaned with bleach before I fired it up (I clean it with a weak solution of bleach, or white vinegar between hatches).

In the eggs went! I don't like candling until day 10 anymore. I once killed a developing egg when it slipped from my butterfingers during a candle. But I still give the eggs the 'whiff test'. And today, the eggs failed the whiff test. I smelled something very rotten indeed. A few of these eggs were leaking a nasty ooze. So I took ALL of them out, and got out my surefire to candle the ones who weren't foul.

...needless to say, the candling left me incredibly disappointed. Only two out of fifteen eggs had any development. All eggs were very porous. Here are some pictures. The two porous eggs are two of the shipped eggs. The third is one of MY eggs (same shell color and breed as the shipped) exposed to the same light. Notice how hardly any light makes it through the shell.

Continuing on, the next logical step is to perform egg topsies. I always want to see what is wrong. Is the inside of the egg scrambled from rough shipping? Is the egg fertile or infertile?

Well, I found all but two of the non developed eggs to be infertile. The blastodisks were plainly obvious, and ones belonging to infertile eggs. Attached are two pictures that the shine didn't wash out too badly, with arrows to the blastidisks.

So basically, I got a box of mostly infertile eggs.

Oh, this a comparison of how the eggs were shaped. On the left, is one of mine. On the left, one of the shipped eggs.

Kinda...lumpy.

All the non developed + rotten eggs (which got carefully thrown out in a field after this picture, no egg bombs in this house!).

I guess I am glad I was sent extras (paid for 12, got 15 in total). Or else I might not even have the two that are developing in the incubator.

So there isn't really anything I CAN do, really. The money has been spent, and I've been shipped many batches of eggs before, I understand the risk. Shipping is rough on eggs that are viable from the start. That doesn't keep me from being disappointed in getting so many infertile (never were viable) eggs. I am looking for your thoughts on the matter, on whether my assumption is valid or not, too.

I got these eggs in the mail about a week ago. I unpacked them promptly. One thing I noticed was that they smelled odd. Like, pond water, that is the only thing I can describe it as. And most of them were misshaped, bullet shaped or very small like pullet eggs. I didn't think much of it, and let the eggs rest for 24 hours, big end up. My incubator has been up and running, temps and humidity checked out. It had also been cleaned with bleach before I fired it up (I clean it with a weak solution of bleach, or white vinegar between hatches).

In the eggs went! I don't like candling until day 10 anymore. I once killed a developing egg when it slipped from my butterfingers during a candle. But I still give the eggs the 'whiff test'. And today, the eggs failed the whiff test. I smelled something very rotten indeed. A few of these eggs were leaking a nasty ooze. So I took ALL of them out, and got out my surefire to candle the ones who weren't foul.

...needless to say, the candling left me incredibly disappointed. Only two out of fifteen eggs had any development. All eggs were very porous. Here are some pictures. The two porous eggs are two of the shipped eggs. The third is one of MY eggs (same shell color and breed as the shipped) exposed to the same light. Notice how hardly any light makes it through the shell.

Continuing on, the next logical step is to perform egg topsies. I always want to see what is wrong. Is the inside of the egg scrambled from rough shipping? Is the egg fertile or infertile?

Well, I found all but two of the non developed eggs to be infertile. The blastodisks were plainly obvious, and ones belonging to infertile eggs. Attached are two pictures that the shine didn't wash out too badly, with arrows to the blastidisks.

So basically, I got a box of mostly infertile eggs.

Oh, this a comparison of how the eggs were shaped. On the left, is one of mine. On the left, one of the shipped eggs.

Kinda...lumpy.

All the non developed + rotten eggs (which got carefully thrown out in a field after this picture, no egg bombs in this house!).

I guess I am glad I was sent extras (paid for 12, got 15 in total). Or else I might not even have the two that are developing in the incubator.

Click to expand...

you need to contact the seller.

You understand the risks but you have irrefutable proof that they were not fertile in the first place.Taking picture os them is great.

Hold the seller accountable. Most that I complain to refund my money. If not I file a complaint with Pay Pal.

I have sent a message, I tried to word it as kindly as possible rather than strait up accusations. Hopefully I get a reply. Though while money did change hands through Paypal, it was not an eBay transaction. It was more a "I'm looking for this breed in this color!" on a chicken group. So I don't really have any buyer protection, I think. And there is a reason I am trying to keep details to a minimum, because I don't want to sully their reputation. For all I know, they've had great fertility, and this was just an unfortunate fluke.

I did think pictures were important, which is why I took them. I am glad that thought crossed my mind! Do you think the pictures provided here are proof enough? I took pictures of most of the eggs, but they hardly turned out, too shiny!

I have sent a message, I tried to word it as kindly as possible rather than strait up accusations. Hopefully I get a reply. Though while money did change hands through Paypal, it was not an eBay transaction. It was more a "I'm looking for this breed in this color!" on a chicken group. So I don't really have any buyer protection, I think. And there is a reason I am trying to keep details to a minimum, because I don't want to sully their reputation. For all I know, they've had great fertility, and this was just an unfortunate fluke.

I did think pictures were important, which is why I took them. I am glad that thought crossed my mind! Do you think the pictures provided here are proof enough? I took pictures of most of the eggs, but they hardly turned out, too shiny!

Hello!
You were sent eggs from poor quality hens, I would never sell/ship eggs that were lumpy and irregular in shape. They knew exactly what they were doing. Don't let it go so easily and don't make excuses for them. You were cheated! I would demand a refund!

I understand your frustration. I've bought eggs from some of the best breeders in the US and I spent lot's of money. Sometimes I would end up with only 2 viable eggs out of 14. I told them but the response I got was "Well at least you got a pair out of them." Best thing to do is wait for their response before having a meltdown. Relax and wait. If they don't offer to ship you more eggs then you can call them out by leaving negative feedback here for all to see.